2011.. THE START OF THE "SALESMAN" DECADE!!

There is a saying "If you need to earn more.. "Make more Sales." This is more true now than in any previous times.

With rising unemployment and inflation, double dip housing recessions, bankruptcies and foreclosures throughout the United States, there maybe no better time than to take control of your own financial destiny. As a Real Estate and Insurance Agent, I see many of my clients and customers call my office to reduce insurance coverage limits or sell homes that they no longer can afford. Many lost their jobs, while others experience reduced salaries. Browsing the Internet (As I Often Do), Our US Government are having a harder time whether we should increase taxes or cut government programs. There is also talk of increasing our National Debt Limits. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has told Congress that without an increase in the $14.3 trillion debt limit by Aug. 2, 2011 the government will be forced into its first-ever default, with potentially catastrophic results for the economy.

So, What to do now? How did we got here? How do we solve our National "Debt" Problem? How did the US became from the #1 creditor in the world 30 years ago, to the #1 Debtor to a tune of roughly 14.3 trillion dollars. Lets not talk about medicare, medicaid, social security, and Government bailout banks and Too-Big-Too-Fail Corporations, than we would be in debt by over 100 Trillion Dollars!!! Guess what, I have already a hard time figuring out what 100 millions would look like, imagine 100 Trillion?

At this point, I don't believe any of our elected official can solve this problem other than Taxing more Americans and borrowing more unfunded money (hence raising the debt limits) and passing the payment along to future generation. Not our US President, Senators, Congress, and other elected officials can solve this problem at this point. So, if our elected officials will be more of a financial burden than a solution to most hard-working Americans to keep our government from providing services, we have only ourselves to find the solution to this ever growing personal and national debt crisis. So what is the solution? Let's take a look at some obvious answers:

GET A JOB!

The rise of unemployment means securing a Job is a priority. However, as the US goes through its post Great Recession dilemma, A job is never a guarantee. A job can definitely bridge the financial gap but may not cover all living expenses. Furthermore, government "needs" such as taxes, inflation, social security, 401k and medicare takes a bite of your earned income before you see one red cent. What's left? Not as much as you were promised to make.

GO BACK TO SCHOOL!

I've often wondered about this. I see so many people going back to colleges to earn a bachelors or online degree due to a lack of employment in the job market. While I personally believe that going back to school is ok, I do worry about a few things on this. One, many students graduating are facing a tough time finding employment. Two, many Retro-Schoolers (those going back to school) usually ask for government assistance for school loans. After graduation, Retro-Schoolers face a still challenged job market with a newly minted student loan. Not everyone falls in this category for sure, but for those who do, this scenario is a definite bummer. But I do believe in anything you do, you must take risk to succeed. So, going back to school may or maybe not a good move, but at least you learn from whatever result it may be.

BECOME A SALESMAN!

Sales are everywhere. If you look at the current offering at craigslist.org and monster.com for a job, you will find many offerings on a sales career. Why is this? The short and sweet answer to this is

"Employers are looking for better results for their bottom line."

As long as the US economy continue to show lack of stability, employers are being more result-oriented when deciding to keep a person employed. The truth of the matter is,

"The more you show you can bring money to the table, the more likely an employer will keep you."

Employers are no longer looking for someone to fill a position, they are now looking for the "BEST" person to fill any position. As you know, whether you work for a big corporation or a small local business, everything is generated by sales. Other than being a Doctor, Engineer, or a Specialty Career, many will need some form of sales skills to get a job or be considered in any important career positions. The new motto of employers on this tough economy now stands,

"Ask Not What The Company Can Do For You, But What You Can Do For The Company."

BE AN ENTREPRENEUR

This maybe the hardest option of all. Being an Entrepreneur takes reasonable time, training, experience, guts, and skill to pull off. It takes years and years of practice, while no such financial guarantee is ever promised. However, without Entrepreneur-minded individuals, we may not have the financial backbone of what this country represent; Small Business. Small Business Entrepreneurs provide jobs, careers, salaries, and hourly pay for most of our job seekers.

So, Why is 2011 The Start of the "Salesman" Decade? Answer is "Opportunities."
Increasing job market uncertainties, high employer debts, and high national unemployment provides great Opportunities for gut wrenching, salesman. The opportunities are there for great salesman to prove to employing companies that they are the right man or woman for the job. The value of bringing positive revenue to the company is what all companies are looking for.



Ultimately, If we decide to change, re-educate, learn sales, and become Entrepreneurs, we may have a shot at turning things around for the sake of our country and our future generations. Ultimately, it may be up to us to take care of ourselves, grow our own business, and provide financial opportunities for others.  This I believe is why "2011 IS THE START OF THE SALESMAN DECADE."

Erwin Sigua
Author, Entrepreneur, Salesman 

Should You Be Involved In Direct Selling (aka Network Marketing)?

                                           

Have you ever been invited to a gathering, typically on a Saturday, and be presented on a product that is suppose to make you financially free?  Or, have you been talked to by a friend to attend someone's home and be presented on a product to buy and be a member on?

If you have, welcome to the world of Direct Selling. 

Direct Selling, also known as Network Marketing, is a business system that ask an individual to join, sell, promote, and build a network around a particular product (i.e. multivitamins, cosmetics, electronics, grocery goods, etc.) for a profit. Direct Sellers are trained by the company and/or person that recruited them to recruit other like-minded individuals that may able to promote the company's product(s) as well.  The Goal is to have the newly minted direct seller may one day have recruited enough individuals to sell the product and enough consumers to buy the product.  Residual income, profit margins, Individual titles (i.e. Ruby, Platinum, Diamond, Elite), vacation trips, and bonuses are then promised as rewards and compensation for volume sales and recruited members. 

The Question Is "Should You Be Involved In Direct Selling?" 

Answer: ?????

There are a myriad of reasons why people feel they should join and not join the Direct Selling Business.  As a Real Estate and Insurance business owner, I've been approached by a few Direct Selling members over the years that sell products from vitamins to video phones.  I've attended hour long presentations on mornings, evenings, weekday, and weekends.  I've signed up as an Independent Business Owner or been called a distributor.  While being a part of the Direct Selling Model, I still have my "Traditional" Business on my regular work hours.      

So, what Did I found about the Direct Selling Business?

Here are 5 Key discoveries about Direct Selling.

1. "Members, Distibutors, or IBO's are people like you and me"

They are workers, Business owners, professionals, employers, employees, and family members who like to dream of one day becoming financially free.  They have work, they take their kids to school, they go to parties, they are your neighbor.

2. "Direct Sellers have a passion to help other people"

The Direct selling model have a system of beliefs that if you help another person get better at their business, the more money you make.  The more you make someone successful, the more successful you become.

3. "Rich People, leaders, and Authors Believe in Direct Selling."

Ask Billionaire Warren Buffett, Billionaire Donald Trump, Multi-Millionaire Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad Poor Dad), President Bill Clinton, Millionaire Author T. Harv Eker  (Secret Of The Millionaire Mind), Millionaire Author John Maxwell (21 Irrefutable laws of Leadership, And Millionaire Author Jeffrey Gitomer (Little Gold Book of YES!Attitude). 

4. "Direct Selling teaches Business Skills."

Starting a business doesn't come cheap.  Imagine learning, experiencing, and even teaching business skills at a fraction of the cost of starting a "Traditional" business.  From first hand experience, I've spend thousands and thousands of dollars starting and operating my Real Estate, Property Management, and Insurance business.  It cost me thousands of dollars building my previous 4 entrepreneurial businesses as well.  Imagine, for less than $500.00, you can experience having your own business.  Gaining Business Skills doesn't have to be expensive, and Direct Selling provides that opportunity.

5.  "Direct Selling Teaches Personal Growth"

Trust me, you will not find a more enthusiastic group than Direct Sellers.  The meetings provide enthusiasm, they talk about fulfillment of dreams, and the positive attitude is electrifying.  They talk as if you are already a success personally, spiritually, mentally, and financially. 

Can anyone and everyone be successful in Direct Selling? 

Answer: No but "should"

Just like in any business, profession, and job, not everyone becomes successful.  In general, success comes by the way how "You" decide to be a success. The passion to succeed in any particular field is not determined by the industry your in, but the passion you bring to the industry.  Low passion and low energy brings poor success while High Passion, High Energy, and High commitment to anything provides positive engaging results. 

Should "You" Be In The Direct Selling Industry?

Answer:

1. If "You" would like to learn, experience, and improve your business skills maybe you should.  

2. If "You" would like to meet and help othe people succeed in a business venture, maybe you should.

3. If "You" would like to attain residual income (earning money while you sleep) maybe you should.

4. If "You" would like to start your own business for less than $500.00 maybe you should.

5. If "You" would like to have a shot to be financially free in the future maybe you should.

6. If "You" would like to save money on going to a psychiatrist fixing low self-esteem maybe you should.

7. If "You" Dont mind hearing the word "NO" from people who don't care on what you sell, maybe you should.

8. Lastly, If "You" want to control your own destiny in the future maybe you should. 

Final Thought: "You may Succeed, You May Fail, but by experiencing, you will always Win!!"